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Subtle effects of ketamine on memory when administered following stimulus presentation

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Abstract

Rationale

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists (e.g., PCP, ketamine) have been shown to impair learning/memory. Well documented in animal models, only limited research in humans has been reported. Findings to date are similar to results of animal studies; however, antagonists are typically administered before the learning experience. This may be problematic as memory failure could be secondary to inattention induced by the psychotomimetic effects of these drugs and/or alterations in sensory processing which can degrade the quality of the stimulus, thereby affecting the accuracy of recall.

Objective

The objective of the study is to compare the effects of ketamine vs placebo on recall for words when administered after stimulus presentation.

Methods

In this double-blind crossover study, 24 normal controls were given bolus injections of ketamine (0.3 mg/kg) or placebo. Immediately prior to infusion, subjects were administered a verbal memory test. Delayed recall was measured 45 min postinfusion. Mental status changes were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale.

Results

Subjects experienced a significant increase in psychiatric symptoms that peaked at 20 min. Results indicate no differences between the drug and placebo conditions for the memory task. However, reminiscence (i.e., recall of previously unrecalled items with repeated testing) was significantly reduced following ketamine administration compared to placebo.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that aspects of memory consolidation are affected by drugs that interfere with NMDA receptor function.

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Notes

  1. This increase did not appear to come at the expense of the number of words recalled. Seven subjects experiencing reminiscence in the placebo condition experienced either no change or an increase in the absolute number of words recalled. However, two subjects experienced declines of two to three words, while four other subjects experienced a single word decline.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the patients and staff of the Residential Treatment Unit of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center for their participation in this project. This work was supported, in part, by the National Institute of Mental Health Grant (MH CRC 40279).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Uhler Hall, Indiana, PA, 15705-1068, USA

    David J. LaPorte & Donald U. Robertson

  2. Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21228, USA

    David J. LaPorte, Teresa A. Blaxton, Tamara Michaelidis, Martin A. Weiler, Carol A. Tamminga & Adrienne C. Lahti

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  1. David J. LaPorte
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  2. Teresa A. Blaxton
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  3. Tamara Michaelidis
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  4. Donald U. Robertson
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  5. Martin A. Weiler
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  6. Carol A. Tamminga
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  7. Adrienne C. Lahti
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Correspondence to David J. LaPorte.

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LaPorte, D.J., Blaxton, T.A., Michaelidis, T. et al. Subtle effects of ketamine on memory when administered following stimulus presentation. Psychopharmacology 180, 385–390 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-2179-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-005-2179-5

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